Author: Sterling Hawkins
You can turn an unpredictable world into predictable results. It comes down to the practices we have in our businesses and with those around us. Even though we might not be able to predict the exact timing of a breakthrough, the practices create the conditions necessary to have a breakthrough, even making that breakthrough inevitable […]
You can turn an unpredictable world into predictable results. It comes down to the practices we have in our businesses and with those around us. Even though we might not be able to predict the exact timing of a breakthrough, the practices create the conditions necessary to have a breakthrough, even making that breakthrough inevitable over time.
Seal Island, South Africa. One of the most renowned places in the world to see sharks.
We’ve been out on the ocean for over 4 hours before this photo was taken. And it’s only about 8am so it was an early morning (or maybe a late night depending on how you think about it). The ocean was empty. No other divers. No other boats except for a small local fishing boat. No sharks either. No big fish. Nothing but thousands of penguins on a little island and all the smells that went with them.
There are all sorts of waivers you sign prior. Not just signing away your safety, but also agreeing that if you don’t see sharks you don’t get a refund. And I’ve just about given up. We agree to give it about 10 more minutes so I sit on the side of the boat with my feet in the water inside the cage.
We’ve all been here in business or life, haven’t we? A little bit resigned that this is just the way it is and there’s not much to do about it.
Then there’s screaming. About 18 inches (yes inches) to my left a 14′ shark has leaped out of the water and was hanging from a rope that used to hold the bait. I freeze. Literally could not move. As the screaming comes into focus, they’re yelling at me to get in the water. I later learned where I am on the edge is more dangerous right now than inside the cage. At the time though, I was thinking: “are these people crazy?! This can’t be the best time to get into the water”.
Seconds later I trusted them enough to jump in… once under water the shark came down and when I looked into it’s big black eyes a total peace and calm came over me. And fear was gone. It seems like that’s always how it is: endless waiting for the right moment. Fear as it becomes a reality. And suddenly a new normal.
The unpredictability of those moments is the interesting part. Nobody could have guaranteed sharks. Nobody can predict the future. 2020 has been a masterclass lesson on that.
We’re not powerless though. What we can do is build predictability into the unpredictability by focusing on our cultural practices. In shark diving it was knowing where to be and when. It was using a certain kind of bait and moving it in a specific way. The crew knew they had created the conditions of success and that’s why they stayed at the ready even though we had given up. They knew success could happen in any moment and they’d be immediately ready to respond.
In business, it’s things like what do we do with failure? Do people provide real feedback? Even how people interact in meetings. When effective practices are in place, it creates the conditions for breakthrough results regardless of the circumstances. And it can happen even when you least expect it.
What are your practices? As an individual or as a company? When those practices create the environment to yield success, it’s only a matter of time.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
It’s hard to believe twenty years have passed since I was honoured and humbled to carry the 2020 Olympic Torch Hindsight to Rekindle Embers of Hope, on the day of the opening ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympics; one of only 26 people before Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron in the stadium. I’d been privileged […]
“No doubt about it, the best speakers are good storytellers. The best writers are good storytellers, the best leaders are good storytellers, and the best teachers and trainers and coaches are good storytellers for Storytelling In Business. It might even be argued that the best parents are good storytellers.” Evidently, storytelling is not confined to […]
We have been waiting, hoping, praying, and looking forward to Managing the Flood Gates for over a year—people are ready to meet again. Clients are sending RFPs (Request for Proposal), booking events, and are considering various cities to host their events. We are once again seeing increased interest in utilizing our DMC (Destination Management Company) services in Asheville. Clients want DMC planning time for Charlotte. They […]
We all know remote working and the loneliness in your team has had a large impact on our mental health with loneliness being cited as the most common emotion being experienced by entrepreneurs, leaders and employees. This can cause us to withdraw and be less committed, creative, collaborative and attentive, and both the quality and […]
A former 9-figure corporate CEO gives you 10 powerful questions to help you seal the deal in your next interview. Just like dressing professionally, showing up on time, and wielding a firm handshake, asking the right questions can make or break the outcome of a long-awaited interview for a super-coveted position. Asking no questions at […]
Whatever you call them, Generation Z – the youngest generation is changing the rules, challenging our boundaries and recreating a generationally cohesive workforce! My first job in high school was working at a grim bagel shop called the Bagel Baker. This was pre-Starbucks, where being a barista has an element of cache’. This was […]
GUIDE TO A TURBULENT WORLD from Economist and best-selling author Dr Dambisa Moyo (St Antony’s, 1997) discusses the world we’re in and how to negotiate it. Economist Dr Moyo (St Antony’s, 1997) was drawn to St Antony’s for its international, graduate student body and expertise in ‘macroeconomics and geo-politics’ as she puts it. She completed […]
With COVID-19 impacting so hugely on us globally and most of us practicing social distancing with A sanity toolkit, the main psychological challenge that many of us face is anxiety. This might include worries about what will happen next in our own worlds and in the world at large, worries about our health or the […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
